special proficiency

[tommy cooper]

Hi can anyone help ?

In WW2 you often see a trade badge with the letters SP(special proficiency) in a wreith
does anyone know just what the qualification was for this badge, and what trades it covers

Cheers

[John L]

From Edwards and Langley page 77:

Personnel granted special proficiency pay or it's equivalent- Army Order 41 of 1938. More about who got it and when.

John

[tommy cooper]

Thanks John

so it qualified for trade pay but very difficult to find out for what?

of all the books I have and they are mainly uniform equipment orientated
they show examples of the badge and many of it being worn but none say
just what it was for ,unlike the M and AT for mortar and anti tank training
that are well known none of my books state what it was for?

well at least I have a start though John

[grumpy]

It was not trade pay.

It was a "special award for ranks below sergeant, granted at CO's discretion, of 3d per day after 3 years' service for proficiency above the average, with a limit on the number of private soldiers to be so rewarded". Subject to annual classification. Tradesmen as such could qualify.

As a matter of interest, which are the books with many examples being worn ....... in my experience they are not too often seen in photos?

[I am the Langley of Edwards & Langley]

[tommy cooper]

Hi Grumpy
Many thanks for that answer two of the photos I can think of are
BRITISH ARMY UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA by BRIAN L DAVIS

page 61 bottom left hand corner, three Grenadier Guardsmen with good
conduct stripes and SP wreaths

UNIFORMS OF THE WW2 TOMMY by DAVID B GORDON

page 402 top left of page Coldsteram Guardsman with SP but no good conduct stripe


so to clarify its a kind of reward for good work done in your field of duty ,for those who were not holders of a

recognized trade or qualification badge say such as store man or clerk who was particularly good at his work and had achived

a high standard of competence

so in recognition of hard work the CO could reward the soldier with a pay rise of 3d a day but equally remove the privilege at his discretion

[Jibba Jabba]

Paybook for REME man.